Learning to be Happy

Disclaimer: I don't own the NCIS characters. Lauren is my only creation aside from the story.

Zack fell asleep dreaming about his own sailboat. Gibbs fell asleep dreaming about Lauren.

Chapter Four

Gibbs dropped Zack at school Monday morning then went to the airport to get Lauren. He sent up a silent prayer that her plane was on time because one, he hated waiting and two, he didn't want to have their time together today cut short. Gibbs pulled up at the terminal, got out and showed the cop on duty his badge. The officer recognized Gibbs from a case NCIS had recently worked at the airport.

"Morning, Agent Gibbs, how you doing? I heard you got shot. Picking up a prisoner?" the cop asked as he shook Gibbs' hand.

Gibbs grinned and said, "Yeah Charlie, something like that. I'm doing fine now. How's everything out here?"

"People coming and going. You know how it is."

Just then the doors slid open and Lauren came out heading full speed toward Gibbs. He turned just in time to catch her in a bear hug and kiss her hello with enthusiasm.

"I thought you were picking up a prisoner, Gibbs," Charlie said laughing.

With a gleam in his blue eyes, Gibbs replied, "Today, Charlie, she will be my prisoner."

Lauren punched Jethro playfully in the chest and said, "Let's go home and we'll see about that."

As they drove away from the airport Jethro asked, "Are you hungry? Do you want to stop and eat?"

"No, I had a big breakfast before I left Miami. I really just want to get home and start taking advantage of having you all to myself all day."

"That sounds good to me. Home it is then."

Jethro and Lauren had talked to each other every day while she was gone so they didn't have any catching up to do. That was a good thing because when they got home there was very little talking being done.

They were barely in the front door when Jethro dropped the bags, backed Lauren up against the closed door and took possession of her mouth is a searing, greedy kiss while his hands moved insider her shirt to caress her bare skin. Lauren returned Jethro's fervor with her own, running her hands through his hair to hold him tightly against her mouth. When Jethro broke off the kiss and started kissing his way down her throat Lauren moaned with pleasure and moved her hands to Jethro's butt to pull him closer to her. They were both reluctant to break contact but they also both wanted to continue this upstairs so Jethro slowly backed up just enough to look at Lauren and say, "Welcome home."

Lauren reached up to touch Jethro's face and said, "thank you. Let's go upstairs. I want to show you how much I've missed you."

Just as they reached the bedroom but before Jethro could take Lauren in his arms and kiss her senseless his phone rang. It was DiNozzo.

"Damn, I'm going to kill DiNozzo," Jethro growled.

Lauren just smiled and went into the bathroom to freshen up and get out of her traveling clothes. When she came out Jethro was sitting on the side of the bed. She heard him tell Tony to handle whatever it was and to pretend he was out of the country for the day. Jethro closed the phone and threw it onto a chair. When he looked up he found Lauren standing in front of him wearing what he liked her in most of all—nothing.

"I'm sorry about that" he said as he reached out to touch her. "I told them not to call me today."

"It's okay. I'm actually kinda glad he called. It made us slow down a bit. Let's not be in a rush Jethro. Let's take our time today." Lauren stepped in between Jethro's knees and reached out to pull his shirt off.

As Jethro's hands came back down his fingers smoothed over her face and down her shoulders before he began caressing her breasts softly. "You are so beautiful. I have missed touching you so much." Jethro slid his hands down her stomach and his lips took their place on her breasts. As he kissed and suckled each in turn he pulled her closer to himself. Lauren ran her hands through Jethro's hair and down his back lightly scraping with her nails. She moaned his name as she felt his hand slip between her legs to feel the heat and moisture his touch was creating.

With his hand still stroking her wet center, Jethro stood up and took her mouth in a passionate, heated kiss. Lauren quickly unfastened his pants and pushed them down his hips. Only so he could get out of his shoes and pants did Jethro relinquish his hold on Lauren. When he did so Lauren took his place on the bed. When he turned around to face her she pulled him to her and he stepped between her legs. Then she began to kiss and stroke his chest as he had hers. His fingers tangled in her hair and he groaned with pleasure as she stroked him and planted wet kisses on his abdomen.

Jethro pulled Lauren up and their mouths crashed together. Tongues were gladly welcomed in each other's mouths. Hands were roaming over heated skin. When they paused to breathe Jethro pulled Lauren onto the bed, planted himself over her and proceeded to reacquaint himself with every inch of her body using his mouth and his hands. For her part, Lauren was happy to let Jethro take the lead this time. She knew her time would come. She loved the feel of his hands on her skin, the heat of his mouth on her breasts. When his tongue and his fingers dropped to explore her core she began to come undone.

"Jethro I want you inside me." Lauren was arching into his mouth and Jethro could tell she was ready. So was he.

He grinned up at her, "I thought you wanted to go slow."

"Don't make me hurt you Jethro."

But before she finished that statement Jethro thrust inside her and their familiar rhythm began. They took each other to the edge, backed off and then plunged over together. Afterward they lay together kissing and touching each other; gathering their strength to do it all again. Before long Lauren moved to straddle Jethro and with one hand on either side of his head she began kissing her way from his eyes downward. She lingered a while on his mouth, sucking, nibbling and tasting all she'd been missing. As she made her way down his chest she could feel his arousal pressing into hers. She continued her kisses past Jethro's navel then she scooted down to give herself access to what she really wanted. She looked up to see Jethro watching her intently. She teased him by brushing her fingertips every so lightly across his tip on their way to his inner thigh.

"Lauren…" he growled in a sort of threatening/begging tone she'd heard many times before. She knew it meant his patience and control were waning.

"Jethro…" she replied in a semi-mocking tone but she took pity on him and began stroking him firmly. Then she licked the underside of his very firm cock before she took him in her mouth. When she heard him begin to call her name she released him to slide up his body and reclaim his mouth as she took him inside herself. Jethro's hands were on her hips helping her set the pace as she rode him back to the edge and over. When she collapsed on his chest, Jethro wrapped his arms around her and held on tightly.

"Gee, maybe I should go away more often," Lauren said into his chest.

"I don't think so. I promise we can do all that and more even if you never leave again."

"Okay as long as you promise all that I think I'll stay around for a while."

"I'm counting on it," Jethro said in a serious tone.

"Hey, don't you worry. You can't get rid of me. Besides I want to meet Zack and help build the new boat."

Jethro rolled them over and kissed her again. He couldn't get enough of her; enough of her mouth, her skin, her sweet center. His hands seemed to have a life of their own and they were all over her, light then strong, soft then demanding. Finally he took her again entering her slowly and staying still for a long moment before she wrapped her legs around his waist and began pulling him into a pace that matched their need for one another. As they lay sprawled on the bed panting and trying to get their heartbeats back to normal Lauren reached for Jethro's hand and locked her fingers with his.

"I could stay here with you forever Jethro. I love you so much sometimes it scares me."

"I know, I don't ever want us to lose what we feel right now. But…"

"Now is not the time for buts Jethro!"

"I was just going to say, but right now I'm starving!! Let's go raid the kitchen."

"What a romantic you are. But you know what, I'm hungry too. Let's go."

After eating some lunch Jethro and Lauren decided to take advantage of the nice weather and take a walk. When they returned home it was almost 3:00. Knowing Zack wouldn't be home for a few more hours Jethro led Lauren upstairs and made love to her as sweetly and passionately as he ever had. Holding her afterward he said, "Lauren I love you. I don't know what I did to deserve you but I'm sure glad I did it. Thank you for understanding about Zack being here. And all the other stuff you have to understand about me!"

Lauren was almost overcome by the emotion in Jethro's voice. "You know I love you too Jethro. I don't know how we got so lucky but like you, I'm sure glad we did. I'm excited about Zack being here with us. Knowing you were so quick to agree to keeping him makes me love you even more."

Jethro and Lauren fell asleep in each other's arms. When they woke up is it was after 5:00. They took a quick shower together then got dressed and prepared for Zack's arrival.

As Jethro had thought would happen, Lauren and Zack hit it off immediately. When Zack thanked her for letting him stay with them she was smitten. Zack took her to the basement and showed her the boat plans and all the wood they had purchased. When he promised not to keep Gibbs in the basement away from her too much she laughed and told him she would like to help with the boat if it was okay with him. Then it was Zack's turn to be smitten.

Pretty soon they established their routine and Zack became a very welcome part of the household. Most days Jethro took Zack to school and Lauren picked him up. Zack almost always had his homework done by the time Jethro got home so two or three nights a week they worked on the new boat. With a child in the house Lauren was enjoying cooking real meals and Jethro was enjoying less take out and more home cooking. Jethro and Lauren had wondered how Zack would relate to Lauren because of his mother's death a few years ago. To their delight and relief, Zack was very comfortable with Lauren and as the weeks passed they became very close. Of course, Zack missed his dad but McGee and Abby had set up his laptop with a web cam so he was able to have a live chat with his dad about once a week.

Christmas was celebrated quietly as Gibbs' team was on duty. Jethro and Lauren gave Zack the sails for his boat for Christmas. The whole team came for Christmas dinner and Zack had a long visit with his dad via the computer. Zack was invited to spend New Year's Eve with a friend so Jethro and Lauren had a romantic dinner for two and welcomed the New Year at home.

Winter gradually gave way to warmer weather and Zack's time with Jethro and Lauren was drawing to a close. The boat was almost finished. On a warm weekend Jethro took Zack out on the Kelly so he could get a feel for what sailing is all about. Zack was a natural Jethro told Lauren later. He was a quick study and loved being on the water. With only two weeks left before Cmdr. Taylor would be home Jethro and Zack spent lots of time in the basement putting the finishing touches on Zack's first sailboat.

"Have you decided on a name for your boat?" Jethro asked Zack at supper the night they finished the boat.

"I've been thinking about it but I can't decide. How did you pick Kelly for the name for your boat?"

Jethro looked over at Lauren and she reached across the table and squeezed his hand. "I named my boat Kelly because that was my daughter's name. She died when she was eight years old."

Zack looked at Gibbs for a long moment before he spoke. "I'm sorry Gibbs. I was thinking I might want to name my boat after my mom and now I know that's what I want to do. Her name was Madelyn but my dad called her Maddie. Do you think that would be okay?"

"I think that would be perfect. We'll paint it on tomorrow. You've done a great job Zack. I'm proud of you."

Zack got up and went to Gibbs throwing his arms around Jethro's neck and hugging him fiercely. Jethro held the boy tightly and they both had tears in their eyes. With his buried in Jethro's chest Zack said, "Thank you for everything Gibbs. I love you. And Lauren too."

Jethro reached out for Lauren's hand. "I love you too Zack. You're a good boy and you'll be a good sailor too."

"How about some ice cream to celebrate?" Lauren suggested.

"Yes ma'am," Zack and Jethro answered together.

On the last Friday before Zack went home Jethro picked him up from school early and they went to the marina. Zack didn't know that Jethro had moved the Maddie from the basement to the marina that morning. When he saw his own boat on the water Zack was so excited he could hardly talk. "Can we take her out, Gibbs?"

"Sure we can. Just around the cove. I want to see how you do. Come on let's go."

There was a good breeze out on the water and Zack had the time of his young life. Jethro had been talking to him about the mechanics of sailing the entire time they were building the boat and now Zack showed he had been listening. Jethro let Zack handle the boat himself for the most part and he managed quite well for a beginner. Jethro helped Zack steer the boat back to the dock next to Jethro's slip where Jethro and Zack's dad had arranged for the boat to be kept.

On Saturday Jethro took Zack out again on the Maddie. Lauren stayed home, saying she had work to do. Actually she was getting ready for Zack's farewell party with Jethro's team that night. Jethro had Zack home by 5:00 and while Zack was getting cleaned up the team arrived and the party was on. Everyone had a great time especially Zack but the day caught up with him and he fell asleep on the couch by 9:30. Tony carried him upstairs and Jethro helped him into bed. When Jethro came back downstairs everyone was gone and Lauren was finishing in the kitchen. Jethro came up behind her wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her neck.

"Gonna be awfully quiet around here next week Jethro."

"Yeah, I know. I could have DiNozzo come over if you get lonesome for a little boy in the house," Jethro suggested with a smirk.

"No thanks. Besides we couldn't afford to feed him all the time." Lauren turned around to face Jethro and wrapped her arms around him. "I will miss having Zack here but I will also enjoy having you all to myself again after tomorrow."

"I agree. I have a feeling we'll be seeing Zack often but it will be nice to be able to do whatever I want to you wherever I want to!" Jethro said this with a very big grin on his face and followed it with a very serious kiss.

"Let's go upstairs before you forget we are in the kitchen, Jethro."

On Sunday Jethro took Zack to Norfolk to meet his dad's plane. The Eisenhower was still at sea but Cmdr. Taylor's deployment was over. On the way to the Naval Base Zack asked, "Can I ask you a kinda personal question Gibbs?"

"Sure, what's on your mind?"

"Are you and Lauren going to get married?"

"Well I don't know Zack. We haven't talked about that. Why are you asking?"

"You love her don't you?"

"Yes, I do."

"And she loves you right? I mean you two are always hugging and kissing and you live together so she loves you too."

"Yes, she loves me too."

"Well, isn't that when people get married? When they love each other."

"It's kinda complicated Zack."

"How?"

"Uh, well, hmmm, see I've been married before and it didn't work out so I'm not sure it's a good idea for me."

"But what about Lauren?"

"What do you mean, what about Lauren?"

"Wouldn't it be a good idea for her since she loves you and all that?"

"Well, Zack I hadn't thought about it that way. What do you think?"

"I think you should marry her so she doesn't get away. I really like her Gibbs. She's awfully pretty and fun and she can sure cook. I think you should marry her."

"Wow, you sound like you've given this a lot of thought. I guess I better think about it too. I promise you will be the first person we tell if we decide to get married. Okay?"

"Okay. Thanks a lot for letting me stay with you and Lauren. And thanks more for building me a sailboat."

"You're welcome Zack. We are glad you stayed with us. We have lots of sailing to do this summer."

Zack turned around just in time to see his dad walking down the jetway. He ran to him and jumped into his arms. Cmdr. Taylor greeted Jethro and thanked him again. Then they were on their way home and Jethro was on his way back to Lauren with something new to think about.

When Jethro got back to the house Lauren was not home so he took a couple of beers and went to sit in the back yard and think about what Zack had said. He had such a bad track record when it came to marriage that he didn't really consider it much of an option anymore. But what if little ole Zack was right? What if it was a good idea for Lauren? But could it be a good idea for her if it included him in the equation? Pretty complicated Jethro thought. As he got up to get another beer Lauren came out of the house with two in her hands.

"Perfect timing as usual," Jethro said as he took the offered beer and kissed Lauren hello.

"Did Zack and his dad get home alright?"

"Yeah, the plane was right on time. They were sure happy to see each other."

"So, what have you been thinking about out here all alone with your Coronas Special Agent Gibbs?

Jethro looked at Lauren for a long time before he decided to tell her about his conversation with Zack. "I was thinking about something Zack asked me," he finally said.

"Oh, and what was that?"

"He asked me if we were going to get married. He said since we hug and kiss all the time and since I love you and you love me that we should get married."

Lauren just smiled and asked, "What did you say to all that?"

"I told him I had been married before and it didn't work out so it might not be a good idea for me."

"And did that satisfy young Zack?"

"No it did not. He asked me, well, what if it is a good idea for Lauren. Then he said I should marry you so you don't get away."

"I see. Well Jethro no wonder you needed to sit out here alone with two beers. Those are some pretty big ideas."

Jethro was suddenly very serious when he took Lauren's hands in his and asked, "Would it be a good idea for you Lauren?"

Without hesitation Lauren said, "Yes, Jethro it would be a very good idea for me."

Jethro leaned in and gave Lauren a quick kiss. "So, just to be very clear, you're saying you would marry me. Am I getting that right?"

"Yes, Jethro I'd marry you. Are you asking me to marry you?"

"Yes, that's what I'm doing."

"Then yes, Jethro, a hundred times yes."

To Lauren's surprise Jethro held up his hand as if to say wait and pulled out his cell phone. "Hello, Dan, it's Jethro could I please speak to Zack?"

END

I hope you liked it. Thank you for the reviews of earlier chapters.